Parental Consent

Question: Is it possible to get the abortion pill from your company? If it is possible, would parent consent be required?

Answer: Family Planning does not provide abortion services. We do provide all-options counseling for women who test positive for pregnancy so that they can make an informed choice. Depending on your situation you may be able to consider emergency contraception – this is a high dose of birth control pill (not the abortion pill) that a woman can take up to 3 days after having unprotected sex to help reduce her risk of getting pregnant. We do have Plan B available at Family Planning; you can also get it over the counter at most drug stores/ pharmacies at any age. If the unprotected sex was up to 5 days ago you may be able to get an IUD inserted called ParaGard. This particular birth control method works very effectively as emergency contraception if within 5 days, and can be left in for up to 10 years for continuing birth control. If these are not an option, you should consider making an appointment to see a health care provider and get a pregnancy test – to do this with Family Planning please call 440-352-0608 and hear about your options whether the test is positive or negative. If you are already positive that you are pregnant, abortion services are available in Cuyahoga County (you cannot get these services in Lake, Geauga, or Ashtabula Counties). You can make an appointment with them to discuss your options as well, however you will need consent from one parent if you are under the age of 18. Minors are able to obtain judicial court by-pass for certain circumstances, and a counselor at one of these clinics would help you with that process as well. For referral resources and further information, please call Family Planning at 440-352-0608 to schedule an appointment at any of our four locations.

Question: Do you have to have a parent to go in? I might have something wrong with my vagina

Answer: Family Planning always encourages parental involvement. FPA feels it is important to have a support system when it come to a client’s health and well being. However, parental presence is not required in order to schedule an appointment at Family Planning. Please call 352-0608

Question: Okay…at one point I was unsure if I had something or not but I know I do now :/ I wanna get it checked out and taken care of. It feels gross, and it itches and I want it fixed ASAP. The main problem I have is I don’t want my parents to know. I’m 18 years old. My bank account is still in the same main account as my moms, so if I start taking out too much money she’ll notice. How much would it cost to treat an std and can you guys treat it and take care of it all there? Like if I go, get tested, test positive for something, will you guys be able to treat me or will you send me elsewhere. Again I won’t be able to go elsewhere without my parents finding out and that’s not even an option. And then what’s the next step. I go, get tested, test positive….then what? And what’s a cost? I know it’s based on income and insurance but what if I don’t have a whole lot of money and no insurance. So many Q’s. Sorry. Helppp

Answer: If you have a concern, please call and schedule an appointment in order to get tested as soon as possible. You also have the option to attend Teen Clinic in Ashtabula this Monday, September 30th. Scheduling is reserved for teens and you also have the option of walking in if there are no available appointments when you call.

The Family Planning Association can screen and treat many sexually transmitted infections including but not limited to chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes. Parental consent is not required in order to be tested for any STI and I can assure you your medical visit will be kept confidential. Because you do not have insurance, the cost for the STI testing will be determined from a sliding scale, based of your income. However, no one is ever turned away from Family Planning because of inability to pay.

“i had sex last weekend with 2 guys but it was a mistake and i feel weeird i think i might have and std..theres burning and itching alot of itching?..and i dont think there is anything else but should i get a check up with out my parents knowing?…how much is it to get a checkup??”

A: “I strongly urge you to contact Family Planning at 440-992-5953 and schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Any kind of burning or itching in the genital area is not normal. The sooner you get treatment the better. All of our services are confidential which means unless we have your written permission, we can not tell anybody you were here, why you were here, etc. Also, our services are based on a sliding fee scale or according to your income.”

“I recently had a baby with my finance. We’re both underage. I have insurance under my dad nut my parents are against me getting birth control. Id like to secretly get it from family planning but im uncomfortable having anyone examine my body other than my doctor. My doctor saw me last month for my post partum check up & prescribed me the pill. Would I need to still have an exam.”

A: At Family Planning, a person does not need to have parental consent to get on birth control. However, all new patients must have an exam to get on birth control.

“Can you help set up a birth control appointment? My girlfriend is only 16 and I’m 18 is that ok? Because her parents or mine can not know we are sexually active.”

A: “Unfortunately we can not make appointments through “Ask the Eductor.” If your girlfriend needs an appointment for birth control she can call either or Ashtabula or Lake county office to schedule one. All services provided at Family Planning are confidential however, we do encourage you and your girlfriend to share your decision with your parents but we also understand that isn’t always possible.”

“My neice is 15 and is about 4 months pregnant and I am the only one that knows about the pregnancy right now, she has not seen a doctor yet and I want to bring her in but I need to know about her being a minor. Can I bring her in with out parental permission? We have talked and she knows she needs to talk to her grandmother about what is going on but she needs to see a doctor to make sure she and baby are alright. She also needs to speak with someone about her options.”

A: “Your niece may want to contact the Family Planning Association to schedule an appointment to speak with our counselor to discuss her options. We do encourage teens to share their decision to come to the Family Planning Association with their parent or guardian however, we also understand that is not always an option. Family Planning provides confidential reproductive health care services to all clients including teens.”

“Can i take my brothers girlfriend to the family planning doctor if her dad gives the ok?( i am 19) she is uncomfortable with him going .there is a chance of her being pregnet, and we were trying to get her checked out and have a normal check up since she hasent been to the doctors before??”

A: Yes anyone the age of 13 and up can come to Family Planning. Permission from parents is not needed. You can call and make an appointment or we do have certain times available for walk-ins.